U.S. patent application number 09/978282 was filed with the patent office on 2003-04-17 for locator bracket for cabinet member drawer face.
Invention is credited to Domenig, Georg.
Application Number | 20030071547 09/978282 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25525937 |
Filed Date | 2003-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030071547 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Domenig, Georg |
April 17, 2003 |
Locator bracket for cabinet member drawer face
Abstract
A plastic or metal locator bracket for providing securing
surfaces for cabinet member drawer slide mechanisms formed to fit
within discreet areas of drawer supporting structures. The body
portion has first and second substantially flat portions formed at
right angles with each other, spacer elements or tabs and a center
marker to provide quick positioning within a discretely formed
space. Shaped pockets integral with the first substantially flat
portion provide structure for multiple fastener receiving apertures
to accommodate a plurality of drawer frame front thicknesses. The
first and second substantially flat portions have interior engaging
surfaces for securement to the frame.
Inventors: |
Domenig, Georg;
(Kernersville, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Charles Y. Lackey
Post Office Box 5871
Winston-Salem
NC
27113-5871
US
|
Family ID: |
25525937 |
Appl. No.: |
09/978282 |
Filed: |
October 17, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/334.4 ;
312/330.1; 312/334.1; 312/334.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 88/90 20170101;
A47B 88/95 20170101; A47B 88/956 20170101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/334.4 ;
312/330.1; 312/334.7; 312/334.1 |
International
Class: |
A47B 088/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A locator bracket for a drawer face cabinet member to provide
securing surfaces for a drawer frame, the bracket having a body
portion with an exterior and an interior frame-engaging surface, a
first straight substantially flat portion and a second
substantially flat portion formed at a right angle with the first
substantially flat portion, a plurality of triangularly shaped
bracing members connecting the exterior surface of the first
substantially flat portion with the exterior surface of the second
substantially flat portion, a pair of shaped pockets formed on the
exterior surface of the first substantially flat portion, a
plurality of fastener receiving apertures formed in the interior
surface of the first substantially flat portion and extending into
each of the shaped pockets to receive securing means for securing
the bracket to the frame, and a plurality of frame engaging tabs
formed at the junction of the interior surfaces of the first and
second substantially flat portions to position the bracket in a
selected position with the frame.
2. The locator bracket as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the
triangularly shaped bracing members is formed at the midpoint of
the joined first and second substantially flat portions as a center
marker.
3. The locator bracket as claimed in claim 2 wherein the
triangularly shaped bracing members are right triangles.
4. The locator bracket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shaped
pockets are integral with the first substantially flat portion.
5. The locator bracket as claimed in claim 3 wherein the shaped
pockets are integral with the substantially flat portion.
6. The locator bracket as claimed in claim 3 wherein the second
substantially flat portion has a plurality of fastener receiving
apertures.
7. The locator bracket as claimed in claim 5 wherein the second
substantially flat portion has a plurality of fastener receiving
apertures.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to drawer brackets and more
particularly to a locator bracket for a drawer front face
frame.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In cabinet and cooperatively received drawers, cabinet
member drawer slides are conventionally positioned by fastening the
slide attaching ends to the edge of the cabinet frames be it either
the front frame or the rear frame. The thickness of the cabinet
frame material, usually wood, is sufficient to receive screws or
other conventionally used fastening devices without splitting or
damaging the frame.
[0005] In newer and more moderately priced residential structures,
there is an increasing use of different cabinet materials such as
plastics and fiber structures which are formed in smaller
thicknesses to conserve space. This is particularly applicable to
the mobile home industry wherein space is at a premium and cabinets
and other built-in features are reduced to the smallest thickness
possible.
[0006] In such new structures, the thickness of the cabinet frames
is such that it is not feasible or desirable to insert fasteners
such as screws or the like into the edges of cabinet frames as is
conventionally done since such devices will cause the material to
split or otherwise be deformed. In those structures, it has been
found desirable to produce additional interior thicknesses at
strategic locations so that conventional fasteners can still be
used without damaging the front or rear frames. In many situations,
even the use of an additional interior thickness of material is not
possible because of space limitations.
[0007] From the foregoing, it can be seen that there is a need to
develop a structure or device that will enable the securement of,
for example, drawer runners to the frame structure without damaging
the structure itself. It is to this particular need that the
present invention is directed.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is a locator bracket for securement to
cabinet face frames to support cabinet member drawer slides and
includes a body portion having frame engaging tabs and a center
marker to expedite the positioning of the bracket at the proper
location on the frame to provide accurate spacing for the
attachment of cabinet member drawer runners and slides. The body
portion has first and second substantially flat portions positioned
at a right angle with each other. Shaped pockets formed on the
first flat portion provides material for the placement of a
plurality of multiple fastener receiving apertures for securing
drawer runners to cabinet frames of varying thicknesses. The first
and second flat portions have interior engaging surfaces positioned
against the interior of the frame and fastened thereto. The
fastener receiving apertures are abundant and offer multiple
locations for securement of the drawer runner to accommodate
cabinet frames of various thicknesses.
[0009] With this brief summary and other comments concerning the
invention in mind, it is therefore a primary objective of the
present invention to provide a locator bracket of a unique
construction which will include all of the advantages of prior art
devices of this nature and none of the disadvantages.
[0010] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
self positioning bracket that can readily be affixed to the
interior of a cabinet frame and to which can be secured one or more
cabinet member drawer runners.
[0011] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
bracket of the type described which is particularly resistant
because of its material to damage or distortions.
[0012] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide
a bracket of the type described which can be economically and
efficiently produced by automated means.
[0013] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a
bracket of the type described that can be used for a plurality of
cabinet frames of varying thicknesses.
[0014] Thus, there has been outlined the more important features of
the invention in order that the description that follows may be
better understood and in order that this contribution may be better
appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that
will be described hereinafter that will also form the subject
matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, it is to be
understood that the invention is not limited in its application to
the details of the construction and to the arrangement of the
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in
the drawings.
[0015] The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being
practiced and carried out in several ways. The phraseology and
terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and
are not to be regarded as limiting. Those skilled in the art will
appreciate that the concept upon which this disclosure is based may
readily be utilized as a basis for the design of the structures,
methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the
invention. In that respect, the claims are to be regarded as
including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0016] Consequently, the objectives set forth above, together with
other objectives of the invention, along with the various features
of novelty which characterize the invention, will become more
apparent after consideration of the following detailed description
of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts
throughout the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective fragmentary view of the bracket of
the present invention attached to a portion of a cabinet frame
front;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the bracket comprising
the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the bracket comprising the
present invention;
[0020] FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the bracket comprising
the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bracket comprising the
present invention; and
[0022] FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the bracket comprising
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 6, a
locator bracket embodying the present invention is shown generally
as 10 and includes a body portion 12 having spacer elements or tabs
14 positioned a predetermined distance apart to allow the bracket
10 to be easily positioned within the spacing of two face frame
members 15 as shown in FIG. 1. Body portion 12 has an exterior
surface and an interior frame engaging surface and a first
substantially flat portion 11 and a second substantially flat
portion 13 formed at a right angle with each other. A center marker
16 is positioned midway between spacer tabs 14 and supplies
additional support for bracket 10 as it is urged into position
before being fastened along body portion frame engaging surface 18.
Bracket 10 is secured to frame face 17 by staples or other
appropriate means.
[0024] Body first substantially flat portion 11 has a plurality of
apertures 20, 22 to receive securing members such as pins at
multiple locations that enable the use of the same bracket 10 on
frame face members of different materials and thicknesses. These
multiple adjusting apertures 20, 22 can be selected so that the
drawer is always precisely positioned with respect to the frame
front no matter what material thickness is selected.
[0025] Apertures 20, 22 are wholly formed within shaped pockets 24
integrally formed with bracket 10. Additional supporting elements
26 (triangularly formed bracing members are also provided to give
added strength to the body portion structure. Bracing members are
right triangles and conform to the exterior surfaces of the first
and second substantially flat portions 11, 13. Second substantially
flat portion 13 has a plurality of fastener receiving apertures
19.
[0026] From the preceding description, it can be seen that a
locator bracket has been provided that will meet all of the
advantages of prior art devices of this nature and offer additional
advantages not provided by such devices. With respect to the
foregoing description, the optimum dimensional relationships with
relation to the parts of the invention including variations in
size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation,
use and assembly are deemed readily apparent to those skilled in
the art, and all equivalent relationships illustrated in the
drawings and described in this specification are intended to be
encompassed herein.
[0027] The foregoing is considered illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
intended not to limit the invention to the precise description and
operation of the embodiment shown. All suitable modifications and
equivalents that fall within the scope of the appended claims are
deemed within the present inventive concept.
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